The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7416 p271
2 September 2006

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GB health departments launch campaign to encourage uptake of pneumococcal vaccination in children

Parents are to be encouraged to have their children immunised against pneumococcal disease in a campaign launched by British health departments this week.

From 4 September children across England, Scotland and Wales will be offered the vaccine as part of the routine immunisation programme. There will also be a catch-up campaign for children up to two years who have already started their immunisations.

Two other changes have also been made to the routine vaccination programme: the current three doses of meningitis C vaccine will be re-spaced at three and four months of age with a booster at 12 months. And a booster dose of the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine will be given at 12 months.

Further information about changes to the routine immunisation programme is available online (www.immunisation.nhs.uk).